Machine for treating materials



"NOV- 27, 1928. I 1,692,963

W. H. THOMPSON momma: FOR TREATING MATERIALS Original Filed March 7,1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 7 Q I myrn ron WWO;

ATTGII IY w. H. THOMPSON I MACHINE FOR TREATING MATERIALS Nov. 27, 1928.

Original Filed March 17, 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 l l I lZ'fJ/{IIIIIIIIII/kA ATTORNEY Patented 'Nov. 27, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFF-ICE.

WILLIAM H. THOMPSON, OF CANTON, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE H. MILLER INDUS-TRIES COMPANY, OF CANTON, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF CHI" 7 MACHINE FORTREATING MATERIALS.

Original application filed March 17, 1924, Serial No. 699,849. Dividedand this application 81, 1925. Serial no. 66,045.

This invention relates to a machine for treating materials, moreparticularly a mate rial freezing machine of the character used formaking ice cream, ices, sherbets and similar products.

One object of the invention is to construct a machine of this characterhaving improved mechanism for agitating, beating or mixing thematerials, whereby the transfer of heat therefrom may be rapidlyeffected.

Another object of the invention is to construct a machine of thischaracter having improved mechanism for operating upon the materials tobe treated, the elements of which mechanism are arranged to co-act tobring or move all portions of the materials into contact with therefrigerated walls of the cylinder in a relatively quick manner, wherebythe freezing operation is materially shortened.

Another object of the invention is to provide a machine of thischaracter of relatively simple construction and capable of'large out-,put.

Another object of the invent-ion is to construct a machine of thischaracter having an improved material agitating mechanism capable ofbringing all portions of the material into contact with the wall uponwhich the temperature changing medium acts, whereby change oftemperature of the material is substantially uniform and rapidlyeffected.

A further object of the invention consists in providing a device or aplurality of devices which co-act with those elements that move in apath close to the cylinder wall and principally those elements whichscrape the material therefrom to move or force the material outwardlyagainst the cylinder wall and in the path of movements of theseelements.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a relatively largenumber of scraping devices, whereby the inner wall is scraped rapidlyand substantially continuously to permit a more rapid contact therewithof all porin time required for the freezing of the entire batch ofmaterial.

Other objects of the invention will be ap.- parent to'those skilled inthe art to which my invention relates from the following descriptiontaken in connection with the accompanydrawings, wherein 'tions of thematerial and resulting reduction filed October Fig. 1 is a sideelevation of a machine embodying my invention, parts of the machinebeing broken away.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section through the freezing cylinder on theline 22 of Figs. 3 and 4.

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

Fig.- 5 is a detail plan view of the inner 'agitating member.

the preferred means for operating the driving mechanism 5. The shaft ofthe motor 8 is provided with a pinion 9, over which and a gear 10, achain 10' runs to drive the latter. The driving mechanism 5 preferablycomprises a main bevel gear 11 fixed to the shaft .of the gear 10 andbevel gears 12, 13, meshing with the main gear 11. The gears 12, 13, areprovided with hubs 12, 13', which aremounted in suitable bearings 12.The bearings 12 are'mounted in the side walls of a casing 16,,whichencloses the driving mechanism 5. The gear hubs 12', 13, are removablyfixed to shafts 14, 15, respectively, to which reference will later bemade. The casing 16 is of suitable construction for housing the drivingmechanism 5, being open at its top and closed a by a cover 17.

As shown in the drawings, and by preference, the freezing cylinder 3 isarranged horizontally, so that the agitating means, to be later referredto, may operate most efliciently upon the material. Of the freezingcylinder .3, 18 indicates a cylinder having a rear head 1 19 and a fronthead 20, which co-operate with the wall of the cylinder 18 to form achamber to receive and hold the material while it is being treated. Oneof the heads, preferably the rear head 19, is formed with an opening 19to which a ductor pipe 22 is connected,

and serving as an inlet opening and inlet duct,

respectively, for the material that is supplied to the cylinder 18 to betreated; and one of said heads, preferably the front head 20 is formedwith an opening 20 which serves as the Outlet or discharge openingthrough which the material is discharged after it has been treated. Theopening 20 is opened and closed to any desired extent by a valve 23. Thevalve 23 may be pivoted upon a suitable Stud shaft 23, projectinglaterally from the front head 20, and operated by the handle 23. Thewalls constituting the inlet duct 22 may be formed integrally with thehead 19; and the opening 20 formed in the head 20 may be surrounded byan integrally formed annular wall 20 to form a suitable seat for thevalve 23.

24 indicatesa circuitous conduit extending spirally around the cylinder18,-from end to end thereof, and forming a passage through which asuitable temperature changing medium is caused to flow or circulate; Inthe construction of the machine shown, I provide for the freezing of thematerial introduced in or supplied to the cylinder 18, for which purposethe temperature changing medium used constitutes a suitable refrigerant,such as brine. The conduit is referably formed from one or more'sheets 0material which are corrugated and such sheet or sheets are bent orrolled into circular form and positioned around the cylinder 18, thecorrugations being so arranged that they form a spiral passage when thesheet is positioned around the cylinder .18, and the edges of thecorrugations or surface adjacent portions and the cylinder the pass sage24-,'whereby the refrigerant may flow throughout the conduit or passagein direct contact with the cylinder 18. The circuitous passage 24. ispreferably formed and. constructed and fixed to the cylinder 18substantially in the manner set forth inthe patent to John C. Miller,No. 878,225, to which reference may be made.- 25 indicates a supply pipefor the refrigerant leading to a point near the front end of thecylinder 3 and connected by the branch pipe 25 to an inlet pipe 26 whichis connected with one end of the passage 24. 27 indicates a returnpipefor the brine leading from the branch pipe 25?. The opposite end of thepassage 24 is connected to the return'pipe 27 (not shown) at 2. pointnear the rear end of the freezing cylinder 3. 28 indicates a suitablevalve disconnection between the branch posed in the constructed to 25and return pipe 27 and cut ofi the flow of brine to the branch pipe 25and to the return pipe 27, or tocut off the flow of brine to the branchpipe 25 and permit its flow through the return pipe 27. 29

, indicates a thermometer which may be supported in a suitable openingformed in the lbow'-25*" provided in the branch pipe 25. 0 indicates ajacket surrounding the passage the walls of the sheet metal forming thecircuitous passage 24, which space may be filled with suitable materialhaving non-heat conducting characteristics to prevent radiation orconduction of heat, thereby overcoming rise in temperature of therefrigerant while being circulated around the cylinder 18. At the rearof the freezing cylinder 3 the circumferential edges of the cylinder 18and jacket 30 are secured to the. inner and outer circumferential walls,respectively, of a flange 31 projecting inwardly from the inner face ofthe rear head 19, and the adjacent circumferential edge of the sheetmetal from which the circuitous passage 24- is formed is also secured tothe flange 31, the manner of securing these edges being such that aliquid tight joint is provided to prevent leakage of the material fromthe cylinder 18 and leakage of the refrigerant from the passage 24. Atits front end, the freezing cylinder 3 is provided with a ring 32 havinga flange 33 to which the adjacent circumferential edges of the cylinder3, jacket 30 and sheet metal forming the passage 24 are secured in asimilar manner to form liquid tight joints for these circumferentialedges. The ring 32 is provided with an outwardly extending flange 34,the outer surface of whichis suitably ground to form a seat for aninwardly extending ground flange 20' provided on the periphery of thefront head 20. 35 indicates devices carried by the ring 32 and providedwith suitable clamping elements arranged to engage the head 20 and forcethe latter inwardly to removably clamp the coacting ground surfaces ofthe flanges 34, 20 in intimate contact, so

that the head 20 will be removably supported in engagement with the ring32, in a liquid tight manner, to prevent leakage of the ma-.

terial from the cylinder 18.

As shown, the inlet opening 19 is disposed in the upper portion of therear head v19 so that the cylinder 18 may be readily filled with anypredetermined quantity of material,

such as cream, sugar and flavoring; and the discharge opening 20 isdisposed in the lower portion of the front head to permit the complete,or substantially complete, emp-' tying of the frozen material by theejecting means to be later described; this arrangement also permittingthe ready introduction of a cleansing solution to the cylinder 18 and Iits discharge therefrom.

36 indicates a duct extending upwardly from the upper portion of thehead 20, the

wallsof the duct being preferably formed inthrough an opening (notshown) formed in the head and permits a portion of the material, whileit is being frozen, to flow into the duct where it can be seen by theoperator. The open end ofthe duct may beclosed by a cap 36 pivoted atits rear side to the upper tegrally with the head 20. The duct leads 7treated. By the term refrigerant around its outer surface.

edge of the duct so that it can be moved laterally to uncover the duct36. 37 indicates a funnel or hopper connected to a duct 38 also leadingthrough an opening (not shown) formed in the head 20 at one side, whichper- .mits the introduction of fruits or other materials into thecylinder 18 at any desired time during the freezing operation. The wallsof the duct 38 are preferably formed integrally with the head 20.

39 indicates as an entirety'means for agitating the material ormaterials supplied or introduced into the cylinder 18 to be treated orfrozen, whereby all portions of the material will be brought intocont-act with the wall of the cylinder and to thereby enable therefrigerant to absorb the heat of the material and effect freezing orlowering in temperature thereof. In the use of machines of thischaracter, the material, when supplied to the freezing cylinder, usuallyhasa temperature of about forty degrees and resulting from itstreatmentin the freezing cylinder and at time of discharge therefrom, itstemperature is lowered to about twentyfive or twenty-eight degrees, butit will be understood that the material may have a higher or lowertemperature when supplied to the cylinder and may also be reduced to alower degree of temperature while being agitating I have reference tothe operations of the elements within the cylinder, which elements bytheir movement therein, cause a beating or whipping'action upon thematerial and movement of portions thereof relative to other portions tomix and stir thesame, the purpose being to cause all portions of thematerial to be quickly and repeatedly brought into contact with theinner surface of the cylinder 18, whereby a transfer of heat from thematerial will be effected due to the circulation of Elie s will be laterset forth 1) one element or elements of the agitating means 39 serves toscrape off the film of material adhering to the cylinder 18 to mix itwith the body portion of the material and to permit other portions ofthe material to contact with such wall; (2) another element or elementsserves to move the material toward that head of the cylinder in whichthe discharge opening is formed so that upon opening of the valve 23,the material will be ejected or discharged therethrough, and (3) anotherelement of the agitating means serves to move that 'portion of thematerial near the central area of the cylinder toward one end of thecylinder, preferably that end opposite to the direction of movementimparted to' the material by the ejecting element. Of the agitatingmeans 39, indicates a shaft extending axially of the cylinder 18, theinner or rear end thereof extending through an opening 19' formed in thehead 19 and connected through the shaft 14 to the gear 12 or its hub .12to be driven thereby. The connection of the shaft 40 with the gear 12 issuch that the shaft may be disengaged from the gear when the agitatingmeans 39 are removed from the cylinder 18 for cleaning and repairpurposes. The opposite or outer end of the.

shaft 40 is rotatably and removably mounted in a bearing or bushing 41,which is fitted in an opening 20formed in the head 20.

in the cylinder 18 they will act on the mat terial'to move it toward oneend of the cylinder. In the preferred arrangement, as shown, the shaft40 is driven in a counterclockwise direction as viewed from the frontend of the cylinder (see Fig. 4) and the blades are disposed so as tomove the material toward the rear end or head. 44, 45, indicate spidersrotatably mounted on the shaft-40 and disposed adjacent to the heads 19,20. The spiders 44, 45, comprise the collars 42, 42, (already referredto), pairs of arms 44*, 45, (preferably three pairs) and pairs of arms44", 45", (preferablythree pairs) which pairs of arms carry at theirouter ends elements 46,47, respectively. The elements 46, 47 extendlongitudinally of the cylinder and move in a path measured radially ofthe cylinder,

beyond-the ends of the blades 43. The elements 46 consist of scrapingmembers having relatively sharp outer edges arranged to engage the innersurface of the cylinder 18 and to scrape the material therefrom. Theopposite ends of each scraping member are bolted or otherwise connectedto plates 48 having lugs 49, which are pivoted upon a rod 50 connectedto the arms of the adjacent pair 44, 45, whereby the scrapers may swingoutwardly, due to centrifugal force, to insure their scraping engagementwith the cylinder 18. Each of the elements 47 preferably comprises a barof spiral shape connected to and supported by one pair of arms 44, 45".In addition to their function of agitating the material in a directionabout the axis of the cyl-- inder, the spiral shape of the bars 47permits them to move the material toward the front end of the cylinder,whereby they function to opening '20 when the valve 23 is operated toopen the latter. The bars 47 also serve to eject or discharge thematerial through the of action as they revolve about the axis of thecylinder 18. The rods 50 and elements 47 operate to connect the spiders44, 45,, together as a unitary structure, so that they may be rotated onthe shaft 40. As shown in Fig. 1, the collar 42 is secured in anydesired manner 'to the flange 51 of a sleeve shaft 51 which surroundsthe shaft 40 and extends through the opening. 19 and has its outer endconnected through the shaft 15 to the gear 13, or its hub 13, by whichit is driven. The spiders 44, 45, are spaced apart so that the collars42, 42 thereof rotate in engagement with the inner faces of the heads19, 20, or suitable bosses provided thereon and surrounding the openin s19, 20, the former collar and flange 51 a so operating to limit theinward movement of the agitating means 39 when it is being assembled orpositioned in the cylinder 18 and the shafts 40 and 51 connected to thegears 12, 13, respectively.

52 indicates devices carried by blades 43 and shaped and arranged toengage the material and impel or force it outwardly toward the wall ofthe cylinder 18. These devices are carried by the blades 43, and moverelative toand' in preferred form of construction, in the oppositerotatire direction, the element 47, thereby co-acting with theseelements to additionally agitate the material but i more particularly toimpel the material, im-

mediately following the s'craping of the cylinder wall, quickly backinto engagement therewith. Thus it will be seen that there are (1) aplurality of elements which operate at uniformly spaced points, tocontinuously scrape the material from the cylinder wall and force itinwardly therefrom, and (2) a plurality of spaced devices whichcontinuously operate to impel the material outwardly toward the cylinderwall, so that portions of the material are being caused to engage anddisengage the cylinder wall in a rapid manner. The devices 52 maycomprise wings or paddles disposed so that their flat faces extendsubstantially radially and each carried by one or more blades, but inthe preferred form of construction, I provide each blade with a deviceand connect them all together in the-form of a single flat strip orrelatively narrow plate and form in the free ends of the intermediateblades 43 of each set, inwardly extending radial slots 43 to receive thestrip, the latter being secured in the slots in any Well known mannerand' its opposite ends being preferably secured to the inner faces ofthe extreme end blades 43 by angle plates 52. I provide a plurality ofimpelling devices 52, preferably one carried by each set of blades 43.The width of the devices 52 may be varied and if desired they may extendoutwardly or in a substantially radial directipn beyond the free ends ofthe blades 43.

In the operation of the machine,-the valve 28 issoperated to supply thebrine or other refrigerant to the passage 24 and the driving mechanismset in operation to rotate the shafts 14, 15, and through them theagitating elements 46, 47 then a predetermined quantity of material tobe frozen is supplied through the inlet duct 22 to the cylinder: 18. Thefreezin operation continues until'the material is found to be in the.desired condi-.

tion for discharge, which condition may be determined by any suitabletest, whereupon the valve 23 is opened. Upon the opening of the valve,the material will be ejected in a rapid manner due to the action of thebars 47, as already described. In emptying the cylinder 18, a suitablereceptacle is placed below the opening 20*, to receive the:t'rozenmate-v rial. In operating the machine, the valve 28 may beoperated to shut off the flow of the refrigerant at any time, at, will;also, crushed fruits and other flavoringmaterials may be introducedthrough the funnel 37 at any time.

To facilitate filling of the cylinder 18, a

batch tank 53 or other form of measuring mechanism may be providedin'superposed relation to the freezing cylinder 3 and connected by anoutlet 53, which is controlled by a valve. 54, leading tothe inlet endof the duct 22. Inthe illustrated construction, the batch tank issupported by legs 55 on the freezing cylinder 3 and the outlet 53 isconnected by a union 56 with the duct22.

By arranging the freezing cylinder 3 in a horizontal position, theagitating means may operate in and upon the material from end to end ofthe cylinder 18, and may be operated at a relatively low speed and withless strain upon the bearings and driving mechanism, and complete thefreezing operation in a relatively short period of time, since thematerial does not have to be lifted to a great height to efiect thenecessary agitation as is the case where the cylinder is disposedvertically.

The freezing cylinder 3 is preferably supported on and rigidly connectedto the main support 2 by suitable arms 56, 57, the former extendingupwardly from the frame 1 and engaging the rear head to which it issecured and the latter extending downwardly from the ring 32 and securedto the front end of the support 2.

To those skilled in the art to which my invention relates, many changesin construc- I combination of a cylinder for the material having aninlet and an outlet, inner and outer members mounted to rotate wlthmsa1d cylin der in different paths measured radlall y thereof andrelative to each other, said outer member operating to scrape thematerial from'the inner surface of sa1d cylinder and said inner memberextending longitudinally of said cylinder in parallel relation to saidouter member and operating in the opposite direct10n to impel thematerial outwardly toward the wall of said cylinder, and means foroperating said members.

3. Ina machinev of the class described, the combination of a cylinderfor material having an inlet and an outlet, members mounted to rotateWithin said cylinder in different paths measured radially thereof andrelative to each other, said outer member extending longitudinally ofsaid cylinder and operating to scrape the materialfro'm the innersurface thereof and said inner member extending con-- the materialsubstantially outwardly against said inner surface, and means foroperating said members.

'6. In a machine of the class described, the

combination of a cylinder for material having" an inlet and an outlet,inner and outer members mounted to rotate within said cylinder indifferent paths measured radially thereof and relative to each other,said outer member operating to scrape the material from the innersurface of said cylinder and said inner member comprising a plurality ofblades arranged to propel the material toward one end of the cylinderand an element carried by said blades and disposed substantiallyradially and operating to impel the material substantially outwardlyagainst said inner surface, and means for operating said members.

7. In a machine of the class described, the

combination of'a cylinder for materialhaving an inlet and an outlet,outer and inner members mounted to rotate within said cylinder andrelative to each other, said outer member operating to scrape thematerial from the inner surfaces of said cylinder and said inner memberoperating to move portions of the material toward one end of the 4cylinder, a device carried by said inner memtinuously longitudinally ofthe cylinder and operating to impel the material in a substantiallyoutward direction against sa1d nner surface, and means for operatingbers.

combination of a cylinder for the material having an inlet and anoutlet, inner and outer members mounted to rotate within said cylinderin different paths measured radially thereof and relative to each other,said outer member operating to scrape the material from the innersurface of said cylinder and said inner member comprising a plurality ofblades arran ed to propel the material toward one end of t e cylinderand an element carried by said blades and operating to impel thematerial substantially outwardly against said inner surface, and meansfor operating said members.

5. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a cylinderfor material having an inlet and an outlet, inner and outer membersmounted to rotate within said cylinder in different paths measuredradially thereof and relative to each other, said outer membercomprising an element adapted to move the material toward said outletand an element operating to scrape the material from the inner surfaceof said cylinder and said inner member comprising a plurality of bladesarranged to propel the material toward one end of the cylinder and anelement carried by said blades and operating to impel 4. In a machine ofthe class described, the

said member arranged to impel the material outwardly toward the wall ofsaid cylinder, and means for operating said members.

8. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a cylinderfor material having an inlet and an outlet, inner and outer membersmounted to rotate within said cylinder in different paths measuredradially thereof and relative to each other, said outer member operatingto scrape the material from the inner wall of said cylinder and saidinner member operating to move portions of the material toward one endof said cylinder, a device carried by said inner member and extendingfrom end to" end thereof and arranged to impel the material outwardlytoward the wall of said cylinder, and means for operating said members.p 9. In a machine of the classdescribed, the combination of acylinder'for material having an inlet and an outlet, -inner and outermembers mounted to rotate within said cylinder in different pathsmeasured radially thereof and relative to each other in oppositedirections, said outer member having elements operat ing to scrape thematerial from the inner surface of said cylinder and to move thematerial toward the said outlet and said inner member having elementsfor moving the material toward one end of the cylinder and for impellingthe material toward the wall of said gylinder, and means for operatingsaid memers.

10. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a cylinderfor material hav ing an inlet and an outlet, inner and outer membersmounted to rotate within said cyl- 7 inder in diiferent paths measuredradially thereof and relative to'each other, said outer membercomprising an element adapted to move the material toward said outletand an element operating to scrape the material from the inner surfaceof said cylinder and said inner member comprising series of bladesarranged to propel the material toward one end of the cylinder andhaving slots formed in their free ends, and elements mounted in theslots formed in said blades and operating to impel the materialsubstantially outwardlytoward the wall of said cylinder, and, means foroperating said members.

11. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a cylinderfor material havins, an inlet and an outlet, inner and outer membersmounted to rotate within said cylinder in different paths measuredradially J thereof and relative to each other, said outer memberoperating to scrape the material from the inner surfaceof said cylinderand'said inner member comprising a plurality of blades arranged topropel the material toward one end of the cylinder and a longitudinallyextending strip, having its active face disposed substantially radiallyand carried by said blades, operatirig to impel the materialsubstantially outwardly against said inner surface, and means foroperating said members.

12. In an ice cream freezer, a revoluble dasher comprising'beater bladesan'gularly disposed to move a mixture longitudinally of the dasher. andother means carried by said blades and operating Within the operatingzone of said blades for beating and moving in a circular direction themixture which is being moved longitudinally by the blades.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name.-

WILLIAM H. THOMPSON.

